Positive Leadership Rita McGrath – Seeing Around Corners: Leading Through Uncertainty
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Oct 15, 2025 In a thought-provoking conversation, Rita McGrath, a strategy and innovation expert from Columbia Business School, shares insights on navigating uncertainty in leadership. She warns against the complacency of success and emphasizes the importance of discovery-driven learning. Rita discusses how small teams and a culture of continuous learning can enhance adaptability, revealing that transient advantage demands constant renewal. With anecdotes from Kodak and Adobe, she illustrates the need for leaders to embrace change and connect strategy with purpose.
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Curious Upbringing Shaped A Strategist
- Rita McGrath grew up in a scientist household where dinner arguments were solved by consulting reference books.
- That early curiosity led her to ask why organizations work the way they do and shaped her research path.
Family Story About Kodak And Xerox
- Rita recounts her father visiting Xerox Park and predicting digital disruption to film and ink businesses.
- His warnings and internal resistance at Kodak and Xerox illustrated how companies miss inflection points.
Transient Advantage Is The New Normal
- Sustained competitive advantage is rare; today's advantages are transient and must be repeatedly renewed.
- Incumbents must disrupt themselves but face inertia from careers and legacy systems.
